Wink from Heaven: Caleb's birthday Part 2

Monday, January 23, 2012

Caleb's birthday Part 2

Caleb had a wonderful birthday evening! We had Grandma and Grandpa over for birthday dinner, and we all took a turn to share what we loved about Caleb. It was so tender to hear such sweet words about our little boy.

Grandma took a moment to read the letters she wrote us from Caleb. They were such a sweet gift for all us. After dinner the rest of my family joined us to celebrate and we each took a turn to share what we love about my mom because it was her birthday too! Caleb loves sharing his birthday with such a special grandma.

I didn't get pictures of everyone who stopped by that night, but we had a wonderful time together as a family!

Grandma and Grandpa Baadsgaard

The best brothers ever!

Pretty proud parents (please excuse my teary eyes :)

Hailey- one of Caleb's night nurses. We love each of our nurses dearly, and we loved that Hailey was able to share the evening with us. (We think Caleb has a crush on her, can you blame him?)

Joseph Martha and Isabella. Isabella is my newest niece! She was recently adopted and sealed to this sweet family!

My brother Joseph loves rocks and he brought Caleb a special Geode to have as a reminder of what a treasure he is inside.

My wonderful little brother and sister-John and Alisa

Since Caleb can't eat food, Alisa crocheted him a hamburger. She also made him a cute little mouse!

My handsome nephew Bradley

Some of Caleb's other favorite gifts included: fruity chap stick, a cozy blanket, nice warm socks, some new clothes to wear and sweet birthday cards and messages!

Thank for you for celebrating with us!

7 comments:

Junior said...: Happy Birthday Caleb, looks like you had a wonderful time surrounded by family and friends. Lots of birthday hugs.; January 23, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Misty said...: You don't know me, but I stumbled across your blog through a friend. Our entire family has been changed through reading about your life and seeing all of your children...Caleb's love for you just radiates, even from the pictures.

Just wanted you to know that there is a big family in Utah praying for you and learning from you. Thank you so much for taking the time to write on the blog.; January 23, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Colleen said...: Wow, what an amazing and loving family Caleb has! Happy Birthday sweet boy!; January 24, 2012 at 9:49 PM
shirlgirl said...: What a beautiful post! That cake looks just wonderful. Love all the pictures of Caleb, especially the first one. Please give him a big kiss for me. You have a wonderful loving and caring family.; January 25, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Team Carter Jay said...: Awwwww, Happy HAPPY Birthday Caleb!! Amazing how far he's come!!; January 26, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Becky said...: I LOVE him. And you looks so beautiful in that picture!!! xoxo; January 27, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Tara Bennett said...: I love that picture of you three! What a special day for a special boy.. xo; February 1, 2012 at 8:44 PM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.